Camping outfit



4 1, 1,1 1925 I F. D. LORTON 55 98 CAMPING OUTFIT Filed June 24. 1922 rest on the Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STA TES PATENT OFFITCEQ;

FRANK :0. Lemon, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR r0 EMIL NATHAN, ran-swan.

CAMPING ourrir.

Application filed June 24, 1922. Serial No. 570,653.

To all whom it may concern f Be it known that I, FRANK D. LORTON, a citizen of the United States, and residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented the new and useful Improvement in Camping Outfits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to camping grates, such as may be used by persons when camping in the open where a stove is not available for supporting cooking utensils over a tire.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a grate of this kind which shall be easily portable, and which may be quickly arranged for use.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a grate which may be securely supported on the ground and which will provide a rigid and secure support for utensils, and which may be collapsed to a compact form when not in use.

Further objects will appear from the do,- tail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a grate embodying this invention, showing the arms extended for use;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of Figure 2; and

Figure d is a sectional view showing the grate in collapsed position. Referring to the accompanying drawing, 1 designates a ground stake which is preferably constructed of metal for the sake of strength and is equipped with a pointed blade 2 adapted to penetrate the ground. At the head of the stake a shank 3 is provided of smaller diameter than the body of the stake, so as to provide a shoulder 4. A carrier 5 in the shape of a tube or pipe is adapted to lit over the shank 3 so as to shoulder l, as illustrated in Figure 2. The shank 8 should be long enough so that the carrier 5 will be rigidly supported in a lateral direction, so as to prevent its tipping when the weight of the utensils is thrown upon it.

The carrier 5 is provided with a head 6 which may be constructed of metal, such as cast iron or cast steel. The head 6 is provided with an internal bore 7, somewhat larger than the diameter of the pipe 5 and an internal recess or groove 8 may be provided for receiving a pivot wire-or rod.- The upper rim 10 of the head 6 is provided with a series of radial slots 11 for receiving the collapsible flat arms 12. Each arm 12 is provided with a perforation adapted to receive thepivot ring 9, and a shoulder 13 adapted to engage the outer rim 1d of the head 6 when the arms are in extended position. Theend of each arm 12 should be rounded as shown at 15 so as to clear the bottom of the slots 11 as the arms pivot about the ring 9.

In assembling this device, the arms 12 may all be assembled on the pivot ring 9. The arms are then swung into parallel relation to a position similar to that illustrated in Figure 4c. The ring 9 may now be sprung inwardly so that its ends overlap, the ring taking a spiral form so as to reduce its diameter. With the ring in this position, the ends of the assembled arms may be inserted in the bore 7 The arms may now be worked each into its own slot 11. The arms are inserted progressively around the circle until each is in its own slot, during which process the ring 9 will gradually spring back to its normal diameter and move into the recess 8 until it is finally seated in the bottom of said recess. The'ring 9 now forms a hinge for each of the arms 12 to pivot about when moving from collapsed to extended positions and vice versa. In using this device, the stake 1 is first driven into the ground at the point where the campfire is to be made. The carrier 5 is then slipped over the shank 3 so as to rest on the shoulder 4. The arms 12 may then be dropped to their extended positions until the shoulder 13 of each rests against the outer rim 14: of the head 6. In this position, it will be clear that each arm forms a rigid horizontal support, and the whole group of arms forms a grate" upon which the cooking utensils may be placed, which will support them rigidly in a horizontal position-over the fire which is built around the stake 1. The arms 12, being flat, may be spaced close together so as to obviate the necessity for cross members between them. When the device is to be packed for moving, as upon breaking camp, the carrier 5 is removed from the shank 3, the stake 1 pulled out of ring 9 otstout' plishes its objects.

the ground and after being inverted, the shank 3 is inserted in the upper end of the carrier at. The Whole device may then be inverted and the arms 12 allowed to fall to colla sed position, as illustrated in Figure 4:. n this position, the device is'compact and easily portable. g

It Will be seen that the invention accom- A device is provided which is easily portable from place to place, a very desirable quality "in any camping equipment. It may be quickly setup for use and when so set up forms a rigid and permanent camp stove. The construction is such that the device is durable under rough usage and, if damaged, can be easily and I quickly repaired.

vention is not to be limited to the It is obvious that various changes may be made in details of construction Without departing from the spirit of this invention; it

is, therefore, to be understood that this inspecific details shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

' l. A camping grate, comprising, a ground stake, a carrier adapted for mounting on said stake, a head on said carrier having an internal annular recess, a series of collapsible elements adapted for extension to provide a utensil support and, a pivot ring for said elements confined in said recess.

2, A camping grate, comprising, a ground stake, a carrier including an upright post adapted for mounting on said stake and a head on said post, an internal annular recess in said head, collapsible flat elements closely spaced around said head and adapted for extension to provide a utensil support, and a pivot ring confined in said recess and adapted to provide a pivot for and support the outward strain of said elements.

, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature this 22nd day of May, 1922.

FRANK n. LORTON. 

